Locking clamp system for foldable dollhouse and foldable dollhouse

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a locking clamp system for a foldable dollhouse. The locking clamp system comprises a base clamp and side clamp that can be connected to each other and can in turn be connected with the wall, floor, and roof floor panels of the dollhouse. The locking clamp system includes a front locking clamp system that comprises a front base clamp and front side clamp that can be connected to each other and can in turn be connected with the wall, floor, and roof floor panels of the dollhouse. The locking clamp system includes a rear locking clamp system that comprises a rear base clamp and rear side clamp that can be connected to each other and can in turn be connected with the wall, floor, and roof floor panels of the dollhouse. In addition, the invention provides a foldable dollhouse, in which a locking clamp system has been used.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of toys, more specifically to thefield of foldable dollhouses and their locking systems. The inventionprovides a locking clamp system for a foldable dollhouse, and a foldabledollhouse.

PRIOR ART

Various foldable and folding play and dollhouses are well-known in theart.

German Utility Model DE202006010621 discloses a foldable playhouse whichis provided with a locking mechanism, which ensures enough stability andsecurity and does not enable children to fold and unfold the playhouseon their own.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,609 discloses a dollhouse, the walls of which havemagnetic sheets for installation purposes.

German Patent Application DE102011084959 discloses a foldable dollhousewhich consists of modular walls which are provided with magnets forjoining with each other.

German Utility Model DE202007008960 discloses a cardboard dollhousesystem, the walls of which are joined with each other with magneticrods.

The disadvantage of the available solutions is that folding up andunfolding of the dollhouse is time-consuming, too complicated forchildren or the construction is not stable enough.

Currently, there is no solution for a dollhouse which takes little roomin a folded state and which is quickly and conveniently detachable andfoldable, while being secure and stable enough for carrying dollhousefurniture and for playing in the dollhouse, so that children couldmanage to detach and fold it up themselves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a locking clamp system for a foldabledollhouse and a foldable dollhouse. The locking clamps are specialinterconnecting clamps for connecting the wall panels and floor panel ofthe floor module, for connecting the floor modules with each other, andfor connecting the roof floor with the module. A floor module of thedollhouse consists of three wall panels and a floor panel that can beconnected with each other by locking clamps. The locking clamps enableunfolding and folding up the wall panels and floor of the floor moduleof the dollhouse quickly and conveniently. In the unfolded state, thewall panels and floor panel form a strongly fixed three-dimensionalspace which can be connected other unfolded dollhouse floor modules ofsimilar type, thus forming a multi-story dollhouse. The roof floormodule of the dollhouse consists of two roof floor wall panels, a floorpanel, and a roof panel which can be connected with each other bylocking clamps. At the same time, in the folded state, the dollhouse andits modules are almost entirely two-dimensional book-like objects whichdo not take much space during storage.

Upon unfolding, the locking clamps lock the wall and floor panels of thefloor module of the dollhouse to each other and upon folding up, thelocking clamps unlock the wall and floor panels of the module of thedollhouse. Similarly, upon unfolding, the locking clamps lock the wallpanels, the floor panel, and the roof panel of the roof floor of thedollhouse to each other, and upon folding up, the locking clamps unlockthe wall panels, the floor panel, and the roof panel of the roof floorof the dollhouse.

The invention provided in this description enables locking and fixingquickly and securely the wall and floor panels of the floor module ofthe dollhouse to each other, and also various modules of the dollhouse,including the module of the roof floor. Locking clamps enabling storingthe modules of the dollhouse in the detached state being stacked on eachother.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described withreference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1: front locking clamp in general view

FIG. 2A: front locking clamp in front view

FIG. 2B: front locking clamp in side view

FIG. 2C: front locking clamp in rear view

FIG. 3: front side clamp in general view

FIG. 4: front side clamp in front view

FIG. 5a : section A-A of FIG. 4

FIG. 5b : front side clamp in top view

FIG. 5c : section B-B of FIG. 5b

FIG. 6: front base clamp in general view

FIG. 7: front base clamp in top view

FIG. 8a : section C-C of FIG. 7

FIG. 8b : front base clamp in front view

FIG. 8c : section D-D of FIG. 8b

FIG. 9: rear locking clamp in general view

FIG. 10A: rear locking clamp in front view

FIG. 10B: rear locking clamp in side view

FIG. 10C: rear locking clamp in rear view

FIG. 11: rear side clamp in general view

FIG. 12: rear side clamp in front view

FIG. 13a : section E-E of FIG. 12

FIG. 13b : rear side clamp in top view

FIG. 13c : section F-F of FIG. 13b

FIG. 14: rear base clamp in general view

FIG. 15: rear base clamp in top view

FIG. 16a : section G-G of FIG. 15

FIG. 16b : rear base clamp in front view

FIG. 16c : section H-H of FIG. 16b

FIG. 17: general view of the floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 18: cross-section of the floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 19A: side view of the floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 19B: front view of the floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 19C: top view of the floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 20: general view of the roof floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 21: cross-section of the roof floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 22A: side view of the roof floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 22B: front view of the roof floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 22C: top view of the roof floor module of the dollhouse

FIG. 23: general view of floor modules and the roof floor module of thedollhouse connected to each other

FIG. 24A: side view of the floor modules and the roof floor module ofthe dollhouse connected to each other

FIG. 24B: front view of the floor modules and the roof floor module ofthe dollhouse connected to each other

FIG. 24C: top view of the floor modules and the roof floor module of thedollhouse connected to each other

EXAMPLE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The invention is based on a locking clamp system that consists of frontlocking clamp system 1 and rear locking clamp system 2 for a foldabledollhouse as depicted in Figures FIG. 1, 2A-2C, 9, 10A-10C. Frontlocking clamp system 1 comprises front side clamp 3 according to FiguresFIG. 3, 4, 5B and the front base clamp 4 according to Figures FIG. 6, 7,8B. The front side clamp and front base clamp are connectable to eachother, and the front side clamp and front base clamp are in turnconnectable to wall panel 5 (see Figure FIG. 17), floor panel 6 of themodule of the dollhouse (see Figures FIG. 17, 20), and wall panels 7 ofthe roof floor (see FIG. 20). The rear locking clamp system comprisesrear side clamp 8 according to Figures FIG. 11, 12, 13B and the rearbase clamp 9 according to Figures FIG. 14, 15, 16B. The rear side clampand rear base clamp are connectable to each other, and the rear sideclamp and rear base clamp are in turn connectable to wall panel 4 (seeFIG. 17), floor panel 5 of the module of the dollhouse (see Figures FIG.17, 20) and wall panels 7 of the roof floor (see FIG. 20).

Front side clamp 3 consists of vertical U-shaped section 10, the bottomside of which has a T-shaped tongue 11. This T-shaped tongue 11 has inat least one end barrier 12 to impede the sliding of the front sideclamp 3. Wall panel 5 of the dollhouse and wall panel 7 of the rooffloor are attached to the vertical U-shaped section 10 and the T-shapedtongue 11 is attached to groove 12 of the front base clamp 4.

Rear side clamp 8 consists of a vertical U-shaped section 13, the bottomside of which has a T-shaped tongue 14. The T-shaped tongue 14 of therear side clamp 8 is shorter than tongue 11 of the front side clamp.Wall panel 5 of the dollhouse and wall panel 7 of the roof floor areattached to the vertical U-shaped section 13 and the T-shaped tongue 14is attached to groove 15 of the rear base clamp 9. Unlike the tongue ofthe front side clamp, tongue 14 of the rear side clamp 8 has no barrier.

The front base clamp 4 consists of a horizontal U-shaped section 16, theside of which has perpendicularly two mutually located grooves 12 and17. Floor panel 6 of the dollhouse is attached to this horizontalU-shaped section 16. Of those mutually located grooves, to the uppergroove 12 is attached the T-shaped tongue 11 of the front side clamp 3,and to the lower groove 16 is attached the upper edge of the wall panel5 of the module of the dollhouse.

The rear base clamp 9 consists of a horizontal U-shaped section 18, theside of which has perpendicularly two mutually located U-shaped grooves15 and 19. Floor panel 6 of the dollhouse is attached to this horizontalU-shaped section 18. Of those mutually located U-shaped grooves, to theupper groove 15 is attached the T-shaped tongue 14 of the rear sideclamp 8, and to the lower groove 19 is attached the upper edge of thewall panel 5 of the module of the dollhouse.

Side clamps 3, 8 and base clamps 4, 9 can accordingly be fixated to wallpanels 5, base panel 6, and wall panel 7 of the roof floor by fasteningmeans that can be, for example, adhesive, rivets, whereas if rivets areused, hole 20 is located in the horizontal section 16, 18 and verticalU-shaped section 10, 13.

The horizontal U-shaped section 16, 18 of base clamp 4, 9 that has holes12 for riveting enables installing and riveting base clamp 4, 9 to floorpanel 6 of the dollhouse; floor panel 6 is placed between the horizontalU-shaped section 16, 18 of base clamp 4, 9 and is attached to base clamp4, 9 by the rivet connected through its holes 20 and through the floorpanel 6.

The t-shaped groove 12, 15 of base clamp 4, 9 is intended for lockingthe side clamp 3, 8 with the T-shaped tongue 11, 14. In order tofacilitate the insertion of tongue 11, 14 to groove 12, 15, tongue 11,14 has the front end with phasing 21.

The lower part of base clamp 4, 9, which has the U-shaped section 16,18, is intended to be based both on floor panel 6 or floor and on theedge of wall panel 5 of the module of the dollhouse, so that the modulesof the dollhouse could be installed stably on each other, being baseddirectly on the bottom module of the dollhouse, which minimisesfluctuation and helps to keep wall panels 5 of the bottom module of thedollhouse and wall panels 7 of the roof floor straight, so that thecentre of gravity of the upper module of the dollhouse would not breakor bend wall panels 5 of the bottom module of the dollhouse. The set ofone floor, including the set of the roof floor, includes four baseclamps 4, 9, i.e. 2 front and 2 rear base clamps in the side edges ofthe floor panel 6; so that the module of the dollhouse that is installedon the top holds tight and the modules of the dollhouse are stablebetween themselves, while being easily detachable.

The purpose of side clamp 3, 8 is to lock wall panels 5 of the module ofthe dollhouse, so that they would not move from right to left and up anddown.

There are 4 side clamps in the set, i.e. two front side clamps and tworear side clamps, which are attached to base clamps 4, 9 to lock theunfolded module of the dollhouse. Side clamp 3, 8 can be locked in baseclamp 4, 9 by pressing on it (from top to bottom or by pulling by itsgroove 12, 15). In order to deactivate, side clamp 3, 8 is pulled out ofgroove 12, 15 (from bottom to top or by sliding out of groove 12, 15).The locking section of the front side clamp 3, which is pressed orpulled in base clamp 4, has in one end barrier 12 or a thicker partwhich impedes the front side clamp 3 from sliding out of groove 12.

Front and rear clamp system 1 provided by the invention can be quicklyassembled and disassembled; clamps 3 and 4, and 8 and 9, respectively,can be fixed to each other and these can be strongly attached tocardboard used as material for the floor modules and the roof floormodule.

The modules of the foldable dollhouse depicted in Figures FIG. 17-23comprise a floor module that consists of four details: two sidewallpanels 5, floor panel 6 and rear wall panel 5. The roof floor module asdepicted in Figures FIG. 20-24A, B, C consists also of four details: tworoof floor wall panels 7, roof panel 25, floor panel 6. For folding upand unfolding the module, there is an articulation 22 between thesidewall panels and rear wall panel (for the roof floor, between theroof floor wall panels and roof panel, respectively). In a preferredembodiment of the invention, for the articulation, the edge of the sidewall panels is on the rear wall panel (for the roof floor, the edge ofthe roof floor wall panels on the roof panel, respectively) with overlay23, which enables attaching the side wall panels by adhesive or rivetsto the rear wall panel of the module of the dollhouse (for the rooffloor, the wall panels of the roof floor are attached to the roof panel,respectively). The overlay of the sidewall panels 5 (for roof floor, theoverlay of the roof panel, respectively) gives the load-bearing strengthto the floor module or roof floor module. Overlays 23 of the side wallpanels (for the roof floor, the overlays of roof floor wall panels,respectively) are riveted or glued to the rear wall panel 5 (for theroof floor, to the roof panel, respectively), doubling therefore thecorner thickness of the module of the dollhouse and giving significantstrength and stability to the construction of the module of thedollhouse as a whole; the resulting articulation enables folding up andunfolding the side wall panels (for the roof floor, the roof floor wallpanels, respectively).

Floor panel 6 and rear wall panel 5 (for the roof floor, the roof panel25, respectively) are in one piece and a two-part hinge 5 a of the floorpanel is located in between them. In the front edge of the floor panel6, which is located facing the attached edge of the rear wall panel 5(for the roof floor, the roof panel 25, respectively), there is anangular foreband 24. The reinforcement of angular foreband 24 helps toprevent the fluctuation of the floor panel 6 of the module of thedollhouse and provides it with significant strength and rigidity. Inaddition, the angular foreband 24 protects wall panels 5 of the moduleof the dollhouse (for the roof floor, wall panels 7 of the roof floor,respectively) in its folded state. The angular foreband 24 gives to theassembled module the consistent impression in each case of assembly—themodule turns into a small box, reminding of a book.

Hinge 5 a of the floor panel between floor panel 6 and rear wall panel(for the roof floor, the roof panel 25, respectively) gives to themodule of the dollhouse enough flexibility to move forth, back and alsodown, which is necessary for connecting locking clamps 3 and 8, so thatbase clamps 4, 9 could be locked with side clamps 3, 8 of side wallpanels 5 (for the roof floor, of the wall panels 7 of the roof floor,respectively), and therefore to fix the module in its unfolded state. Inaddition, the narrow space created by the two-part hinge section 5 a ofthe floor panel enables hiding upon folding up the module the side wallpanels 5 (for the roof floor, wall panels 7 of the roof floor,respectively) with side clamps 3, 8 between the rear wall panel 5 (forthe roof floor, roof panel 25, respectively) and floor panel 6. Thisway, the folded module of the dollhouse is thin enough to be placed, forexample, in a shelf (like a book).

On both edges of the two side wall panels 5 of the module of thefoldable dollhouse (for the roof floor, wall panels 7 of the roof floor,respectively), there are two side clamps 3, 8, and on both oppositeedges of floor panel 6, there are two base clamps 4, 9. Side clamps 3, 8and base clamps 4, 9 can be locked with each other, forming in itsunfolded state a dimensional module of the dollhouse, as depicted inFIG. 23.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wall panels 5 (forthe roof floor, wall panels 7 and roof panel 25 of the roof floor,respectively) and floor panel 6 of the foldable dollhouse are made ofcardboard.

The module of the dollhouse described in this invention can beconveniently and quickly (approx. 10-30 seconds) folded up and unfolded,whereas the folded module of the dollhouse has enough space for fittinglocking clamps 3, 8 and 4, 9, and has similarly to books or file cases aso-called ‘backplate’ for the information regarding the contents of themodule of the dollhouse.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the module of the dollhousecomprises eight locking clamps: four base clamps 4, 9 that are attachedto the edge of the floor panel 6, and four side clamps 3, 8 that areattached to wall panels 5 of the module of the dollhouse (for the rooffloor, to wall panels 7 of the roof floor, respectively).

Deactivation of Locking Clamps

Both clamps, i.e. base clamp 4, 9 and side clamp 3, 8 are deactivated bya smooth stroke out of the groove (from bottom to top) or by sliding outof the groove (from back to forth):

1. Side wall panel 5 (for the roof floor, wall panel 7 of the rooffloor, respectively) is opened and placed to the rear wall panel 5 (forthe roof floor, to roof panel 25, respectively)—first movement.

2. Second wall panel 5 (for the roof floor, wall panel 7 of the rooffloor, respectively) is opened and placed to the rear wall panel 5 (forthe roof floor, to roof panel 25, respectively)—second movement.

3. Floor panel 6 is turned against rear wall panel 5 (for the rooffloor, against roof panel 25, respectively) and the module of thedollhouse is folded—third movement.

1. Locking clamp system for foldable dollhouse, characterized in that itcontains base clamp (4, 9) and side clamp (3, 8) that are connectable toeach other and that can in turn be connected to wall panels (5), floorpanel (6), and wall panels (7) of the roof floor of the dollhouse,wherein side clamp (3, 8) consists of a vertical U-shaped section (10,13), in which is attached wall panel (5, 7) of the dollhouse, and in thebottom side of the vertical U-shaped section (10, 13), there is aT-shaped tongue (11, 14) that is attached to the groove (12, 15) of baseclamp (4, 9); base clamp (4, 9) consists of a vertical U-shaped section(16, 18), in which is attached floor panel (6) of the dollhouse, and theside of the horizontal U-shaped section (16, 18) has perpendicularly twomutually located U-shaped grooves (12, 17) and (15, 19); into one ofthose U-shaped grooves (12, 15) is attached the T-shaped tongue (11, 14)and into other U-shaped groove (15, 19) is attached wall panel (5) ofthe dollhouse and wall panel (7) of the roof floor.
 2. Locking clampsystem according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes frontlocking clamp system (1) that comprises front base clamp (4) and frontside clamp (3) that are connectable to each other and that can in turnbe connected to wall panels (5), floor panel (6), and wall panels (7) ofthe roof floor of the dollhouse; and in that it includes rear lockingclamp system (2) that comprises rear base clamp (9) and rear side clamp(8), that are connectable to each other and that can in turn beconnected to wall panels (5), floor panel (6), and wall panels (7) ofthe roof floor of the dollhouse.
 3. Locking clamp system according toclaim 1, characterized in that the T-shaped tongue (11) of the frontside clamp (3) has in at least one end barrier (12) to impede thesliding of side clamps (3, 8) out of base clamps (4, 9); in the otherend, tongue (11) has a phasing (21).
 4. Locking clamp system accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the T-shaped tongue (14) of the rearside clamp (8) is shorter than the T-shaped tongue (11) of the frontside clamp (3) and groove (15) of the rear base clamp is shorter thangroove (12) of the front base clamp.
 5. Locking clamp system accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the T-shaped tongue (14) of the rearside clamp (8) has one end with phasing (21).
 6. Locking clamp systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the side clamps and baseclamps can accordingly be fixed to wall panels and floor panel byfastening means.
 7. Locking clamp system according to any one of claims1 to 6, characterized in that the horizontal and vertical U-shapedsection has a hole for fastening means.
 8. Locking clamp systemaccording to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening means arerivets.
 9. Foldable dollhouse characterized in that it comprises alocking clamp system according to any one of the claims 1 to
 8. 10.Foldable dollhouse according to claim 9, characterized in that the floormodule of the dollhouse consists of three wall panels and a floor panel,wherein the floor panel and the middle wall panel are a single detail,one wall panel is attached to one side of the middle wall panel and theother wall panel is attached to the other side of the middle wall panel,the roof floor module of the dollhouse consists of two wall panels ofthe roof floor, a roof panel and a floor panel, wherein the floor paneland the roof panel are a single detail, one wall panel of the roof flooris attached to the one side of the roof panel and the other wall panelof the roof floor is attached to the other side of the roof panel. 11.Foldable dollhouse according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in thatthe joints of the panels of the dollhouse are flexible articulations(22).
 12. Foldable dollhouse according to any one of claims 9 to 11,characterized in that in the joints of the panels of the dollhouse, theedge of the side wall panels is on the rear wall panel, and for the rooffloor, the edge of the wall panels of the roof floor are on the roofpanel with overlay (23).
 13. Foldable dollhouse according to any one ofclaims 9 to 11, characterized in that the floor panel and the rear wallpanel, for the roof floor, the floor panel and the roof panel are in onepiece and in between them, there is a two-part hinge (5 a).
 14. Foldabledollhouse according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in thatin the front edge of the floor panel, which is located facing theattached edge of the sidewall panel, there is an angular foreband (24).15. Foldable dollhouse according to any one of claims 9 to 14,characterized in that on both edges of the two side wall panels of thefloor module, there are two side clamps, and on both opposite edges ofthe floor panel, there are two base clamps, on both edges of the wallpanel of the roof floor, there are two side clamps, and on both oppositeedges of the floor panel, there are two base clamps, wherein the sideclamps and base clamps can be locked with each other.
 16. Foldabledollhouse according to any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in thatthe wall panels, wall panels of the roof floor, roof panel and floorpanels are made of cardboard and/or plastic and/or metal and/or woodand/or their combination.